Water Quality, Division of

Located under Water Resources Management in the Department of Environmental Protection, the Division of Water Quality (DWQ) has a primary responsibility for protecting New Jersey’s surface and ground waters from pollution caused by improperly treated wastewater and its residuals.

Wastewater is used water generated from a variety of domestic, commercial and industrial activities. In the home, it comes from various sources including sinks, dishwashers, bathtubs, toilets and washing machines. Commercial and industrial users also generate wastewater where human waste may be mixed with a wide variety of wastes emanating from cleaning, processing, or manufacturing operations. When wastewater is improperly discharged into a surface waterbody it can deplete oxygen, stimulate undesirable growths of plants (algae), and introduce disease producing organisms and toxic chemicals into the environment.

To protect the state’s waters, the Division of Water Quality:

-Implements the New Jersey Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NJPDES Program),
-Administers financial assistance programs for wastewater treatment facilities, and
-Administers the Treatment Works Approval, Capacity Assurance, and Sewer Ban Programs.